Mine first Libertarian book was Harry Browne's "The Great Libertarian Offer". However, I actually enjoyed "Why Government Doesn't Work" better. That book, and Bastiat's The Law are why I became a Libertarian.

For me, the start of my transformation from a neocon into a paleolibertarian began with reading the columns of the late, great Harry Browne. This was the beginning of my transformation. Then, going to LewRockwell.com completed it.

I grew up in a Republican household and I clearly remember being a strong "Reagan" Republican in my teen years. I didn't really start to get disillusioned with the Republicans until the administration of G.H.W. Bush and the first Iraq war. If anything at all, I think it was my religious evolution from mainstream protestantism to Deism that really influenced much of my social/political beliefs, giving me much more of a Libertarian view. It was not until my introduction to Austrian economics, however, that I really gained a Libertarian/Austrian economic viewpoint. On that point, "Man, Economy and State" by Murray Rothbard is by far my biggest influence, as are Rothbard's other works.

Government Waste books by Martin Gross and Ross Perot's book which led me to "Why government doesn't work" by Harry Browne and "What it means to be a Libertarian" by Charles Murray which pushed me further towards libertarianism.

I think I was always something of a libertarian before I even knew of the word. Common Sense is one pamphlet that I remember reading when I was a kid. Books that become influential after I switched over to the LP brand have been "The Biggest Tax Loophole of All" by Otto Skinner, plus several books by Murray Rothbard and Harry Browne.

I'm not sure what started me down the road, it's been a very gradual ride. But what solidified it was "Libertarianism: a Primer".

When I was in College, I took a "Philosophy of Business" Course. The required reading included Atlas Shrugged and Economics in One Lesson. I'd have to say that the Hazlitt's broken window fallacy was really the first thing that turned me on to to libertarianism, and we encountered that during the first class.

Atlas Shrugged, The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress and Thus Spake Zarathustra are among those that inspired me to become a Libertarian, although, I don't think that would have been concrete without debating with various friends and colleagues.

I was raised in a Democratic household, and didn't begin to appreciate what we now call libertarianism until I read some of Thomas Jefferson's papers, John Stuart Mill's "On Liberty," and Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience" in my 1970s college years at UC Berkeley. In the 1980s, Bergland's "Libertarianism in One Lesson" was influential. In the 1990s, I was privileged to read "Libertarianism: A Primer," by David Boaz, as well as Charles Murray's "What It Means to Be a Libertarian," and Peter McWilliams' "Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do." Harry Browne's "How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World" and "The Great Libertarian Offer" were important books that I read in that same timeframe (closer to 2000). I started "Atlas Shrugged" many times during the 1970s and 1980s, but finally worked through it all in the mid-1990s, and I was glad I did. In the late 1990s I read Henry George's "Progress and Poverty." In the early 2000s, I read "Good To Be King" by Michael Badnarik. More recently, Richard Maybury's "Whatever Happened to Penny Candy" and L. Neil Smith's "The Probability Broach" (both graphic and text versions) have been on my reading list. I am currently enjoying Smith's and Bieser's "Roswell, Texas" as a graphic serialized novel over the internet.

The point I am making, by listing so many books, read over several decades, is that my own personal libertarianism remains a work in progress, with many important influences so far, and new ones springing forth fairly often.

Mr. Merritt hits the nail squarely on the head.

The true roots of Libertarianism lie neither with Rand nor Rothbard - they merely reworked and embelished the Classic Liberalism of the Enlightment in which our political philosophy is grounded.

Beginning with Rosseau, through Locke, the American founders -- particularly Jefferson -- and then Mill and Thoreau, the concepts of small government and personal liberty were fleshed out.

Too much emphasis on the importance of Rand and Rothbard is what has led to the destructive influence of the anarchist wing of the LP, IMO.

I had to take a course in philosophy to fulfill a program requirement in engineering. I took the course at Wright State U in Dayton. I found it interesting and would often discuss issues with the professor after class. I think his name was Dr Jeff Moore. During one discussion he mentioned "you sound like a Libertarian". Not knowing what that meant, I found the first book I could find with the word Libertarian in the title. I found the book written by Dr John Hospers. That was my epiphany.

Patrick Dixon
Chair, Libertarian Party of Texas
City Council, Lago Vista, TX

When I was 10 I questioned my religion. I studied 8 different beliefs and I gave up on having an imaginary friend. When I was 12 I questioned my government and started studying more about it. I read: Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville, Animal Farm and 1984 by George Orwell. Jefferson, Paine, Franklin, Adams all had great ideas. I also read Plato, Socrates and Aristotle (the greatest philosopher). I read things I was diametrically opposed to as well. The communist manifesto, Mein Kampf and, a book a friend gave me, Out of the Night by Jan Valtin. I then started reading the platforms of all the different parties. Nothing sounded close to my beliefs. At the age of sixteen(1972) I helped to campaign for Nixon, although I thought he was the lesser of the evils. I was lucky to be at a county fair in 1975 and I walked up to a booth that read: Libertarian Party. I had always been a Libertarian, but there hadn't always been a party for me. I like the idea of listing some books and influences. It gave me a whole new list of things to read.

For me it was, ironically, the GOP 2000 Platform. As a member of the armed forces, I am prohibited from contributing directly to candidates, but can contribute to parties. I wanted to support McCain (in his pre-Incumbent Protection Act days) against Bush (as a Texan, I'd seen the damage he'd done as governor), but could only do so through the GOP. When I read what that party actually stood for, as opposed to what it is thought by the man on the street to stand for, I started shopping around and found a home here.

I was born a libertarian, but my ideas were given voice in government school, studying the American Revolution.

In college, my economics textbook was written by Milton Friedman. I thought he was the wisest person I'd ever encountered, but I had no idea he was called a "libertarian" or that the party had just been formed. He understood people and he understood money, and he helped me have a vocabulary for describing economic truths.

I found the LP by reading my ballots, year after year. In California, candidates list their occupations beneath their names. The R's and D's list "incumbent" and other political or bureaucratic offices they've held. The Libertarians list occupations that deal with reality: statistical, structural, far-seeing, down-to-earth occupations, like "Physicist," "math teacher," "engineer," "computer programmer," or "economics professor." I figured they know what works and what doesn't, and appreciate efficiency. I changed my registration, and got a call from Bob Weber inviting me to join.

"The Great Libertarian Offer" by Harry Browne sealed it for me.

Voting, to me, seemed pointless until I learned of Harry's campaign in 2000. I finally had a reason to vote, so I ventured down to the polling place for the very first time and marked the box next to Harry's name.

I feel like an idiot because a book didn't "introduce" me to the party. The "sports books" I read as a youth didn't serve that purpose I suppose.

I got my libertarian values due to a healthy mix of influence from my parents.

I read the U.S. Constitution in high school and again in college. It's pretty cut and dry. Many history books, classroom discussions, and South Park episodes later and here I am.

I forgot to mention Spooner's essay, "No Treason: The Constitution of No Authority," which I encountered in the 1990s. Also, several excerpts from David Friedman's "The Machinery of Freedom," which I found online a few years ago, got me to thinking about the practicality of a voluntarist society, to go along with the moral prescriptions implied by Spooner, Thoreau, etc. It was useful to compare what Friedman had to say with, for instance, Henry George's prescriptions.

Almost as important as my readings on libertarianism, were my readings on authoritarianism. I read Orwell's "1984" and "Animal Farm" in the 1960s, Shirer's "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" in the 1970s, Canetti's "Crowds and Power" in the 1980s, and Morse Peckham's "Explanation and Power" in the 1990s. Those are the ones that have stuck with me down through the years, and to which I keep returning. In particular, Orwell seems to have understood the trajectory that we have been following, despite getting a few details and the timing of milestones wrong, here and there. This Libertarian owes a lot to that disappointed Socialist.

If you're anything like me, you'll read or study material in waves. In between waves, I have enjoyed reading the US Constitution and Declaration of Independence, which look the same, yet very different, every time I pick them up afresh.

_Free To Choose_ by Milton Friedman. I read it when 14 years old, after watching the TV series of the same name on PBS.

I'm disturbed by the fact that almost all Americans are either liberals/leftists, neocons/religious right-types, and centrists. There are very few true libertarians and true conservatives remaining in the U.S.

Stan, there are more libertarians than you think, but by nature we don't organize like those other groups. Think of all those people that are registered as independents (about 36% of voters). I doubt all are centrists, plus all the people that don't vote because they only see red and blue (which is why we need an ad camplaign). We need to do a better job at drawing those people to the polls in favor of liberty, but they are out there, especially 18-25 year olds.

It wasn't any of the books you people mentioned that made me one. I have been one all my life although I was registered Republican untill 2000.
It is my life long belief in the U.S. Constitution from history books and from learning these values from our forefathers. I became upset with the GOP the moment George HW Bush signed on the dotted line to allow more government theft of peoples money. That and the recent loss of civil liberties to the last two gop presidents. Harry Browne sealed the deal when I saw him in a televised convention I think in 1996. I new something better than the gop and the donkey parties was there and viewed the same way I do.

I first became aware of Libertarians in the 2000 election when I was searching candidates and wanted to know who else was running besides the D and R.

Recently, I have been reading Modern Liberty and the Limits of Government by Charles Fried, which has been giving me some great insight into what it means to be a Libertarian.

My libertarian beliefs grew with my recent increasing faith in Christianity. Man is only an animal without freedom of choice and for every right there is a responsibility. I'd say the two groups have alot in common.

Like "do unto others as you'd have them do unto you?" If only our governments and religions would practice what they preach.

I was drawn to the Libertarian party not by any book, but by the IRS. ^_^

I'm only 20, but I'm a self-employed website designer. Last year was the first time I had to pay taxes -- by the time I was done with all the paperwork I was a libertarian. Well, to be honest I did not know it. But when the elections came rolling around this year I started researching what other options were available. That's when I found the Libertarian party. Since then I've been reading every libertarian book I can get my hands on.

For me the turning point was knowing I was paying taxes to support my relatives. My relatives happen to be be a bunch of lazy welfare whores we spend holidays comparing what programs are easiest to abuse.

I was born a libertarian. By the time I was old enough to vote in 1960 I had been observing the two parties, and could see no difference between Republicans and Democrats.

After voluntering to help qualify the American Independent Party in California, the first vote I cast was in 1968 for George Wallace. In 1972 I voted for John Schmitz, AI again. I did not vote again until 2000 for Harry Browne. While actively promoting liberty, the Libertarian Party did not show up on my radar.

In recent years, my montra has been, Become a more knowledgeable Libertarian by reading more of the basic Libertarian materials. Expose as many people as you can to the Libertarian philosophy and vote a straight Libertarian ticket. It is the only way to grow and measure the cumulative effects of our efforts.

My first exposure to what might be concidered Libertarian was a pamphlet by von Mises called Planned Chaos. It was like coming home.

Capitalism and Freedom by Milton Friedman, in 1978, supplemental reading for my first college economics class, at CWRU. The class itself was a revelation too.

I got the freedom part from an early age, but it's rare for anybody to explain political economy clearly to kids.

Friedman didn't use the word libertarian, but somebody from the LP put pamphlets out in the dining hall shortly thereafter, and I was hooked.

To be honest it was when watching Penn & Teller: Bullshit!, apart from the environmental episode I just knew what they were saying was true. Of course I disagree with some of their mistakes, such as second hand smoke and global warming "not existing".

But the USA needs to embrace science more.. It's turned into a giant crap fest of anti science, Hollywood is evil, no free speech etc.

Anyways, I'm 17 and my dad calls me a cynic. So it's all good. :P

But now I am reading books such as "Why Government Doesn't Work"

The Declaration of Independence, and the trials of Socrates and Jesus convinced me I was a libertarian.

The LP News convinced me I was a Libertarian.

To all of you -

What was your reaction when you found out about Michael Medved's rant about the LP "swinging" elections to the Democrats, and calling for tougher ballot-access laws? Personally, I got a kick out of hearing about the neocon squirm.

Peter McWilliams' "Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do."

Stan, I wasn't surprised that Medved would balme others for the downfall os Republicans this election. It would be a shock if they took responsibility for their actions.

Like most I was always a Libertarian. My father taught me most of what I know about government and politics and books I read just confirmed this knowledge plus just anti-authority instincts. At the age when most parents were telling their kids that one hit of marijuana would end up causing you to be a crack whore, he said "Why shouldn't a person have the choice to do something stupid to themselves if they want?"
I was never able to answer this question. My grandfather was a bootlegger during Prohibition so my family knows the futility and damage it caused. Most of the problems associated by Drugs are either completely caused or made worse by the fact that they are illegal. The only damage that Bob's drug habit might cause me or anyone else there are already laws for (i.e. the "drugs make people steal" argument). And they don't apply to some people (I smoked marijuana for 12 years and never stole from anybody or infringed upon anybody else in any way).
At first it was that the LP was the only party against Drug Prohibition. However, I used to vote Republican because of Ronald Reagan.
The Republicans no longer follow up on his agenda (He did with only part himself but he did more than most).
The book that most defined my beliefs in our constitution is "The Federalist Papers" (interesting sidenote: Today they (the authors) would be considered anti-government militia-types. Back then they were condemned by many for wanting to give the government too much power.) 1984 is a good argument against socialism and totalitarianism. "A Brave New World" was influential, too. It's vision of a totalitarianism that kept people dumb and happy is what I most fear for the United States. Unlike 1984 there is no material shortages, in fact people are encouraged to waste to keep production jobs going. People are encouraged to be smart at work and then numb their minds and consume and play all night.
Of course "Atlas Shrugged" is influential. However, it has the fundamental flaw of being too ideological and philosophical. John Galt's speech to the world reads like a senior thesis and loses many a reader's interest. However it is good on many other levels.
The science-fiction short stories and novels of the 50's and 60's are also influential.
For one of the best arguments for religious freedom read Robert Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land."
I believe that these books can only affirm what we already knew deep down in our hearts. I was grateful for Atlas Shrugged because I wanted to defend not only capitalism but capitalists (hard to do sometimes thanks to crooks like Enron). I knew that no one should have the right to tell someone what to do with their hard-earned money but so many people complain about how a rich person does so.

John Stossel introduced me to fiscal conservatism, while Bill Maher solidified me as a social liberal.

Harry Browne turned me from a moderate/liberal/libertarian into a semi-radical libertarian, and Murray Rothbard turned me from a semi-radical libertarian into a radical libertarian.

Rand offered me relatively little.

For me it was Stossel's first book, 'Give me a break.' I had voted Libertarian in college because of their ideas about capitalism, but I didn't fully investigate the philosophy of the movement.

After reading about Stossel's gradual awakening to reason (pun intended), I read Libertarianism: a primer. I couldn't believe that there was a coherent philosophy with which I totally agreed.

Incidentally, I dont like the term 'fiscally conservative.' Their is nothing conservative about capitalism. Capitalism is the system in which every transaction is optional on both sides. Any variation removes choice through force and is not idealistically compatible with the concepts of liberty. Libertarians, unlike Rs and Ds, are logically consistant.